After a long day at the office, a forgotten lunch, a missed coffee break, a bad hair day, or an unnecessary disagreement with le boyfriend, I’m ready to boost those endorphins and blow off a lot of little steam. So, while relying on my good friend Cabernet Sauvignon seems like an exceptionally great idea, instead I’ve met myself a “Bob” .
If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you. That's 6ix Cycle's motto, and we are so totally into it. We've now taken classes from owner Julie Harrish and one of their main men, Adam Deunk, and holy yellow penguins did these guys live there motto. The studio is clean, fresh and just as approachable for men as it is for women and they've got you covered for everything you need. Worth a trip, homies. worth a trip.
Our sweaty efforts brought us to the largest spin establishment across the country, SPINCO. These guys, who first opened in beautiful Kelowna in 2014, have since expanded to eight cities from coast to coast and have a particularly interesting expansion model in that they specialise in the smaller markets (with the exception of Toronto). The vibes at SPINCO are similar to a lot of other spin studios we see now, but we assess who was really here first. The classes we took at their Spadina studio were challenging, the facilities are flawless, and these guys draw a loyal crowd that call SPINCO their fav in a city with many many options.
Undrcard has freaking nailed it. This studio is doing what people want out of boutique fitness studios now. Crazy hard classes set in an aesthetically pleasing, large, open space, that provide all amenities like great change rooms, lockers, and good quality products for a decent price, that lack a bougie attitude, and have a place for us to chill before or after class equipped with wifi, strong coffee and dairy free/gluten free/all natural delicious snacks. NBD. So, like, they're doing all of this so 5 full pineapples all DAY.
The Sweat Lab (or TSL) is an absolutely awesome hub for lean, mean muscle hotties. Reasonably priced, with a diverse schedule full of killer classes, and a spacious ski-lodge feel, this studio is a must visit for the Calgary fitness fam.
This spin studio in Calgary's mission has nailed it in a lot of ways; a central and beautiful location that's spacious and decorated with all kinds of meaning, and a studio that includes all the amenities you could ask for. Our class was the Goldilocks of spin classes, not too hard, not to easy, just right and we left sweaty, worked and happy. 4.5 pineapples locked and loaded.
We've been to Barre Body Studio twice now to try different classes, two locations, and get our butts whipped into shape, literally. These barre classes are low-impact, aerobic and will get your heart rate up by incorporating elements of ballet, free weights and resistance-based equipment. The result is a more toned, leaner physique with a lifted and absolutely fantastic posterier.
Stax Cycle Club has a reputation for having some of the best instructors in the city and for being one of the most approachable, and we are so happy to say that our experience did not disappoint. This very simple spin studio has the most interesting layout that we've been to yet, and their iconic blue hued spin room will make you feel like your at a rave circa 1992. Probably the biggest thing to note about Stax though, is that they have the lowest prices we've ever seen that include all amenities like spin shoes, towel service and steam room access. These guys are quite literally giving other spin studios a serious run for their money.
Our 50th review is of one of Toronto’s most beautiful, quirky and eclectic boutique Pilates studio in Little Portugal: Muse Movement. They specialise in Pilates but also offer yoga and “movement therapy” and they’ve been bringing us their famous playlists and refreshing educational approach to Pilates since 2015. They have a very loyal community that fills up these small, private-feeling classes every week because Muse is such a HUGE proponent for focusing on correct alignment, and educating about the human body. Their classes will get you to slow down, concentrate, and focus on your smaller, often forgotten about, supportive muscles.
The Quiet Company is one of a handful of studios that are providing a dedicated space for quiet meditation and reflection in Toronto and this.is.important. This simple, calm space in the heart of King West’s hustle, is full of subtle shout-outs to local artists and the selection of the pure products and decor that are used and sold in the space is v intentional. Even if you’re the newest newbie of newbs to meditation, they will help you learn the ropes and the result will be thought provoking without being overwhelming. Hey look, if taking 15 minutes out of your day to stop into a place like this will bring more happiness, balance and less stress to your life why would you NOT?!
